One game into the 2024 season and Brophy fans may already feel emotionally spent.

But all's well that ends well, and Friday night in Gilbert, Brophy was able to pull through when it mattered most. The Broncos withstood a furious rally from host Williams Field before prevailing, 35-28 in a 6A non-region season opener for both schools.

Brophy had built a 21-0 lead with 1:18 left in the first half, but Williams Field never relented, eventually tying the game at 28-28 with three miuntes left in the game. Suddenly ghosts of seasons past were getting wrestless.

That's when junior quarterback Rylan Umphrey engineered a 78-yard scoring drive, culminating with a 17-yard touchdown pass that Devin Fitzgerald plucked out of the air on the game's final play from scrimmage.

Ballgame.

"Wow what a game," Brophy coach Jason Jewell said afterwards. "We have to give Williams Field credit. We were up 21-0 and then I got selfish and wanted the ball back once more before halftime, and they go down and score. But it's a credit to Williams Field because they got physical with us."

The Broncos not only avoided another heartbreaking loss--the kind that have plagued the program over the past few years--they also saw their young quarterback making his first varsity start shine on the big stage.

After narrowly winnning the starting job over fellow junior Case Vanden Bosch, Umphrey threw four touchdown passes and ran for another, while completing 12 of 16 passes for 133 yards. Umphrey did throw a costly interception to Williams Field's Treyshawn Shorty late in the game, which led to the Black Hawks tying the game. But the 6-1, 165 pound junior showed resilience when it mattered most.

"All we're looking to do is bounce back from adversity," Umphry said after the game. "Our motto this year is unfinished business and it goes back to last year when we struggled with adversity. So tonight we faced a great opponent tonight, and we were able to bounce back tonight in the way that we talked about."

How it Happened

After the Brophy defense denied Williams Field on an early goal line stand, the Broncos starting finding offensive rhythm. The Blackhawks also began self destructing. A high snap by Williams Field on a punt attempt gave Brophy posession at the Black Hawks 20-yard line. On first down Umphrey scampered around the right side for the score and 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Brophy then recovered a Williams FIeld fumble early in the second quarter, which set up a 37-yard catch and run scoring play. Daylen Sharper took a short screen pass and burst his way through Williams Field's secndary for a 14-0 lead. 

Brophy's defense continued forcing punts and Brophy kept going to work. With just under a minute left until halftime, Umphrey found Devin Fitzgerald in the endzone as he made a diving catch from 37 yards, giving the Broncos a commanding 21-0 lead. 

 

Fitzgerald had a breakout game. Three of his six receptions resulted in touchdowns. Brophy appeared in the midst of a blowout win. But Williams Field quarterback Kody Guy had other ideas.

Black Hawks Down...But Not Out

Brophy's last game of the 2023 season was a heartbreaking, overtime loss to Red Mountain in the 6A semifinals. The Broncos also led 21-0 in the first half of that game. Could Williams puill off the same feat? 

Almost.

Before the game reached halftime, Guy completed a pair of long passes, and Williams Field was at Brophy's 10-yard line with only a few seconds left until halftime. That's when Guy scrambled around before finding Trey Foster in the back of the endzone. The extra point was missed, but Williams Field had put a stop to the bleeding.

The momentum carried over into the second half, when the Blackhawks marched 78 yards for another score, cutting Brophy's lead to 21-12 after a short scoring run from Q Skillings.

Brophy woke up and quickly drove for another touchdown completion between Umphrey and Fitzgerald, this one a quick screen pass from one yard. Brophy led 28-12 but 5:18 still remained in the third quarter.

Both offenses traded punts and posessions until Williams Field made things interesting again. Sophomore Trey Smith somehow hauled in a 42-yard pass from Kody Guy despite defensive pass interference. From the seven yard line, Skillings bullied his way to the endzone. The two-point run made it an eigh point game with eight minutes to play.

Williams Field wasn't finished. After Brophy picked up a couple of first downs, Shorty came up with his big interception, giving the Blackhawks one more chance for a score and two point conversion.

Enter Courshawn Hill. At 5-11, 212 pounds, the junior running back is tough to bring down, but he also has the speed to break the big one. That;'s exactly what he did a few plays into the drive. Not only did Hill break free for a 42-yard touchdown run, he also caught the crucial two point conversion pass to tie the game. Hill finished with 158 yards on 12 carries. 

At this point the Broncos were likely feeling Deja Vu as they watched another big lead evaporate. But this is 2024 and after one week Brophy held to it's motto of unfinished business. 

Despite the loss, Williams Field served notice to the rest of 6A Friday night. Skillings and Hill make for a powerful backfield, and Kody Guy demonstrated his ability to make big plays.

They Said it

"This team is built off of grit. Coach Campbell has instilled that in us. So being down by 21 and coming back is part of our gritty nature. We never quit and we always keep swinging. That’s who we are. It was a good overall team effort, and we have more to come."

-Williams Field running back Courshawn Hill

 

"The ball was in perfect position, I just had to go up there and do my job. I did have to steal it away from the deefender, but that's part of my job. Rylan was great tonight and he put the ball where it needed to be, and he showed his quickness with his legs."

-Brophy receiver Devin Fitzgerald

 

Next week Brophy hosts Regis Jesuit out of Colorado. Williams Field hosts Desert Vista.